Valiant Cars of Canada

The Plymouth Savoy was the low end Plymouth in 1965; other models were, in ascending order, Fury II, Fury III, and Sport Fury. For 1966, Savoy was renamed Fury I.

The 1965 Dodge line was 330, Polara 440, Polara 880, Monaco. The 330
became Polara for 1966.

The Saratoga was a four door sedan and a two or four
door hardtop car from 1962 to 1966. The 1962 used Chrysler Newport exterior trim with
rocker mouldings. The Windsor had no rocker mouldings and used 300
side trim without the emblem.

The 1966 and final Saratoga used Windsor taillamps. Convertibles were
imported from 1963 to 1965 as the 300; in 1966, the US 300 hardtop and convertible were imported as the Sport
300.

The Canadian parts arm was Chryco - Mopar crept into use in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Originally by Mike Sealey; thanks to Dan
Stern and Stuart McAllister

Introduction

Like
its Australian cousin, the Canadian and U. S. Valiants started from a
common ancestor, developing into distinctly different cars around the
1963 model year; however, the Canadian car would become nearly identical to the American version by 1967.

The Valiant was originally a new make rather than (after 1961) a smaller
Plymouth. Before the 1960 model year, nearly all Chrysler Corporation dealers in the United States sold Plymouths as a companion to other corporate brands.

Plymouth lost Dodge dealers when the Plymouth-based Dodge Dart was launched in 1960 — this was the original one, not the Valiant-based Dodge Dart. Dodge having a car the same size as the popular Plymouths hurt the most popular Chrysler brand, and Plymouth fell from its
traditional third place in U. S. sales; the new Valiant car also competed for the traditional Plymouth buyer. For that reason, executives changed their strategy and put Valiant into the Plymouth lineup. Valiants were, in any case, sold in the States by Plymouth dealers, leaving Dodge
without a comparable car until the 1961 Lancer.

Canada is a smaller market, which had two
dealer chains — Chrysler-Plymouth-Fargo and
DeSoto-Dodge. Making Valiant available to all
Chrysler Canada dealers was probably based on smaller volume, which would not support two very similar
cars with fairly low margins. Thus, Valiant stayed separate in Canada for years after that policy was abandoned in the States, giving the DeSoto-Dodge dealers a compact car.

The differences between the two Valiants are the result of these different paths.

1960 - QX Series Canadian Valiant cars

The original, QX series Canadian Valiant cars had a slightly different nameplate on the front fenders; it added “by Chrysler” underneath the Valiant name. The same nameplate was used on the
deck lid (and also on the Australian R and S series Valiants).

There
were also detail differences in interior trim (color option differed,
other minor changes). The alternator was standard in the US, but
optional in Canada, where a 35 amp generator was still standard.

1961

Bill Watson pointed out that Chrysler parts were
sold by Chryco, not Mopar, in Canada until the 1980s, though the name
"was creeping in" during the late 1970s.

In Chrysler's 1961 model year, DeSoto production was finally stopped in most markets. Canada's DeSoto-Dodge dealers were, like DeSoto-Plymouth dealers in the States, given Chrysler franchises as
compensation. This
move
probably cemented the Valiant's identity as a compact Chrysler car (as
opposed to a compact Plymouth car), though the "by Chrysler" words were
dropped after 1962.

The situation continues in Canada to
this day, where dealers sell the "Chrysler Intrepid." Canadian
Plymouth dealers also sold Dodge trucks, the Fargo name having been
dropped in that market in late 1972, until Plymouth was folded in 2001. Canadian phone books from this era had listings
for "Dodge-Valiant Dealers."

The 1961 Valiant RV series was again mostly identical to U. S. Valiant except for "Valiant by
Chrysler" badging.

1962: SV Series

In 1962, Dodge launched the Custom 880 to DeSoto’s niche. While
the 880 was an attractive car, its undisguised combination of 1961 Dodge front clip
and 1962 Chrysler tail were obvious, and American fans were taken aback. With Canadian Dodge
dealers selling the Chrysler line, the 880 was unnecesary in
Canada. The mixing and matching of fronts and rears would reappear in
the Canadian Valiant line the following year.

Bill Watson added:

Chrysler US adopted the reduction-gear starter for its engines, but
Chrysler Canada hung on to the direct-drive starter for the six until
1967 or 1968. The only time this is a problem is when switching
starters or replacing torque converters / pressure plates. The space
needed for starter engagement is greater for the reduction-gear starter
than the direct-drive. Thus a Canadian starter mated to an
American-model torque converter will crack the starter pinion gears!

The Dodge Lancer continued to be unavailable in Canada as well. This would become more significant in 1963.

The SV Valiant appears identical to U. S. cars with the exception
of the "Plymouth" emblem being deleted.

1963: TVXL Series (TV, TL series Valiants)

The Dodge Lancer was an excellent car, but
had never sold well, because, executives believed, of its similarity to the Valiant. So, for the
1963 model year, the compact Dodge was given a longer wheelbase and
distinctive styling from the Valiant. It also received a new name,
inheriting "Dart" from the larger Dodge cars, while continuing to use
the "L" model designation which originated with Lancer, i. e., 1963 Dart
= TL Series; 1963 Valiant=TV series.

The
Valiant was noticeably smaller, except for the station wagon body which
used the Valiant wheelbase (106") in both applications. The Dart was
not only larger, but bore a distinct resemblance to the '63 Chrysler as
well. The Canadian Lancer was exported mainly to the Commonwealth
countries, other than Great Britain and South Africa.

The Dart was the best value on the U. S. market at
that time, being roomier and better appointed than its competitors
without becoming too large. This was no help to Chrysler
Canada, who had placed all its chips on the Valiant. Someone must have
realized also that a car marketed as a "compact Chrysler" and a sibling
compact which actually looked like a little brother to the full-size
Chrysler, should be the same car. Hence, the 1963 Canadian
Valiant, which was actually a Dodge Dart with a Valiant front clip. All
models had side chrome identical to the 1963 U.S. Valiant, with some
modifications to mate with the Dart quarter panel.

Bill Watson added:

The brochure illustration artist used American Plymouth Valiant
models - thus showing incorrect rear quarter windows on the 2-door
sedan. All Dart-based 1963-1966 Valiants used the reverse angle on the
2-door sedan. Had to - otherwise the window would not roll down. So
there were no Dart-bodied Valiant 2 dr sedans with straight quarter
glass. Another error in the brochure was the lack of rear quarter panes
in the sedans on the driver's side - the vehicle used for inspiration,
I suspect, was the prototype Plymouth Valiant that was a Signet hardtop
on the driver's side and a V-200 sedan on the other. (It was updated
for use at the 1964 introduction) This was the first year for the
Valiant convertible - in fact for all Chrysler Canada built
convertibles! The model number was TVX1 (-L, -H, -P). The "X" denotes
export in Chrysler-speak and these Vali-Darts were built in Detroit.
They were exported in right-hand drive to the UK and were reviewed by
"the Autocar." (They used Dart upholstery, though).

1963 Canadian Valiant (believed to share TV series designation with
U. S. cousin but in many ways has more in common with TL series):

Shared front sheet metal including most trim with U. S. Valiant.
(Canadian V-200 did not have "Valiant" nameplate on front fenders
between wheel well and front edge of door. Canadian Signet had "Signet
200" emblems in same location as U. S.)

Clone of 1963 Dodge Dart from firewall back except for ornamentation and minor trim differences as follows:

"Two Seventy" badge with Dodge "delta" on C-pillar replaced by very
similar "Valiant 200" badge with Valiant crest in same location as
Dodge delta. "DODGE" block letters on stainless panel located on trunk
lid between backup lights (if any) replaced by "Valiant" script as seen
on V-100.

Canadian Signet (clone of Dart GT):

Dodge delta with "GT" insert replaced with Valiant crest. "DODGE GT"
plastic insert in middle of stainless panel between backup lights
replaced by black plastic insert, silver "Signet" script in middle
flanked on either side by Valiant crests. The Dodge Story shows
Signets with V-200 chrome adapted for the Dart body; however, it's been
so long since I've seen one that I can't remember if production
Canadian Signets had these pieces or not.

Ironically, the '63 Dart station wagons were virtually the same cars
as the '63 U. S. Valiant wagons other than the adoption of Dart
taillights. As a result, the Canadian Valiant wagon was a near clone of
the U. S. version, except for the Dart taillights.

1964: VV Series, Barracuda, 273 V-8

Canadian Barracuda
(by Bill Watson)

Barracudas were built in Canada only in 1964 and 1965; model numbers were VVX1-P / VVX2-P (1964) and AV1-P / AV2-P (1965). All other years were imported.

The early Barracuda was marketed as a Valiant, and not as
a Plymouth. Engines were similar to the U.S. - the
170 was the standard six, the imported 273 was the standard V8. The 225 was optional.

The Formula S was available in Canada in 1965, but it was imported. Interiors on the 1964 models were identical
to the American version, while the 1965 Canadian Barracuda used the
Dart dashboard. The 1964-1965 models had "Valiant"
on the front and trunk lid, not "Plymouth." On the tail end "Barracuda"
also appeared below the trunk opening. Starting in 1967, they were marketed as Plymouth Barracudas.

April's introduction of the Barracuda was the biggest news in
A-Bodies in 1964, followed by
the introduction of the 273 V-8. The Canadians did not graft
a Dart tail section onto their Barracuda, but it did have some subtle
differences.

The Canadian Valiant continued as a 1964 Dart (VL Series) with Valiant front
clip and ornamentation changes.

All Canadian Valiants, including Barracuda, had a "Valiant" badge on
the hood in place of the "Plymouth" badge seen on the U. S. Valiants.
They also had the U. S. Valiant gauge cluster and hubcaps.

Valiant 100 (Dart 170 clone)

Valiant nose on Dart car. Valiant script as seen on '63 Canadian
replaces "Dodge" badge on trunk lid. Valiant crest with "100" banner
across middle replaces Dodge delta with "170" model designation on
C-pillar. Side chrome as normally seen on U. S. Valiant 100 with
appropriate change to piece mating with rear wheel well. Two or four
door sedan or wagon.

Valiant 200 (Dart 270 clone)

Valiant nose on Dart car. Valiant crest replaces Dodge delta with
"270" model designation in middle of trunk lid. Stainless strip which
reads "Dodge" at bottom of trunk lid replaced with similar strip
reading "Valiant". Some seen with Valiant crest with "200" banner
across middle replacing round badge with "270" model designation on
C-pillar; others seen with Valiant-crest "TWO HUNDRED" badge as seen in
'63. Side chrome as normally seen on U. S. Valiant 200 with appropriate
change to piece mating with rear wheel well. No "Valiant" badges on
front fenders as seen on U. S. model. Four door sedan, wagon,
convertible, and hardtop.

Valiant Signet (Dart GT clone)

Valiant front clip on Dart body. "Signet 200" emblems on front
fenders as on U. S. model. Trunk lid ornamentation as on Canadian
Valiant 200 with appropriate 270-to-GT chrome strip between backup
lights upgrade. Some seen with Valiant crest replacing Dodge delta with
"GT" markings on C-pillar; had chrome louvers as seen on '63
GT/Canadian Signet C-pillar. Canadian '64 Signet convertibles and
hardtops had '63 louvers mounted near rear wheel well. Side chrome as
usually seen on U. S. Signet with appropriate change to piece mating
with rear wheel well. Barracuda "fake mag" hubcaps occasionally seen on
late production Signets.

Signet 200 came as convertible or hardtop. The "Valiant" in script
appeared on the front fenders of the V-200 just ahead of the front
doors.

Valiant Barracuda (nearly identical)

"Plymouth" badge on hood replaced by "Valiant" badge. "Plymouth"
block letters on trunk lid replaced by "Valiant" block letters as seen
on Canadian Valiant wagons. "Valiant" script on panel below trunk lid
replaced by "Barracuda" script. While 6-cylinder VIN started with "1",
the V-8 started with "7" - thus reading like a Dart VIN. The Barracuda
was not available with the stripe that was common in US adverts.

Allan Bowes added: "I had a 64 Valiant Signet 200 (Dart GT clone)
which I bought new in 1964. This car had a 273 V/8 with a 4 speed
transmission and Hurst shifter. Neat car. Biggest problem was that the
transmission came with 140 weight oil in it and the first winter it was
a bear (Saskatchewan at 40 below). The dealer had to overhaul the
transmission in the spring. Another note when I bought the car there
was an earlier 64 Valiant Signet 200 (Dart GT clone) in town which had
a slant 6 and a 4 speed tranny. I think this combination disappeared
with the introduction of the V/8 in the spring of 1964."

1965: AV and AL Series

The U.S.-Canada Automotive Trade Pact (a distant ancestor of NAFTA) was signed in January 1965. This was the beginning of the
end for many distinctively Canadian cars, including Fargo trucks, the Chrysler Windsor (a
renamed Newport), the Chrysler Saratoga (a renamed 300
4-door pillared sedan exclusive to the export market), the Plymouth
Savoy (a C-bodied 2-door hardtop downgraded to Fury I/II trim levels;
see below), the C-bodied Canadian Dodge (Polara, Polara 440, Polara
880, and Monaco; all had Plymouth-level engines and interior trim
including Plymouth dashboards, and a Canada-only Monaco convertible was
offered), and TWO different styles of Canadian Valiant. Note: some records show that the Savoy was a Dodge in Canada, but I have seen one, and it definitely is not.

Bill Watson wrote:

The 100 (US Valiant 100) came as two and four door sedan and wagon,
while the Custom 100 (US Valiant 200) came as four door sedan, hardtop,
and convertible - no wagon. The 200 (US Dart 170) came as two and four
door sedan - no wagon, while the Custom 200 (US Dart 270) came as four
door sedan, hardtop, convertible, and wagon.

The Canadian 1965 models also had a different VIN then the American
- an extra digit for the body style. Although 1965 Valiant
illustrations show the "Valiant Signet" nameplates on the front fender
behind the wheel opening, production models had them ahead and above
the wheel opening. I own a 1965 Valiant Signet hardtop.

For the first time, Chrysler Canada offered equivalents of both the U.S. Valiant (AV series) and Dart (AL series), marketing both
cars as Valiants and offering all models through Plymouth and Dodge
dealers. There was no mixing and matching of front
clips, but there were still enough differences to make visiting Yanks
scratch their heads in confusion. I have seen a 1965 Canadian Valiant
owners manual which covered (and showed) both versions.

The AL was a 111" wheelbase Dodge Dart with a Plymouth Valiant front
clip); the AV was the Plymouth Valiant and Barracuda (106"), but wagons are a
special case. The Canadian Valiant 100 equalled the US Valiant V-100,
and the Canadian Valiant 200 equalled the US Dart 170. Finally, the
Canadian Valiant Custom 100 was similar to the US Valiant V-200, and
the Custom 200 was similar to the US Dart 270.

There was also a special Canada-only model AL-1 two door sedan with
straight quarter glass instead of the double-angle glass used on US
Dart (AL-1) two door sedans. This was offered in 1963, 64, and 65 in
Canada only - maybe 1966 as well. Special thanks to the Andrus family for their patience while I
scrutinized their Canadian '65 Custom 100, which I believe was probably
the only one in Northern California at the time (mid-'70s).

1965 Valiant Custom 200:

Virtual equivalent to '65 Dart 270 with following changes; circular
emblem at center of front hood which held Dodge delta replaced by
similar emblem with Valiant crest; "Dodge" emblem deleted from hood;
"Valiant" emblem (possibly same emblem as seen on 100/Custom 100 trunk
lid) mounted lower right corner of grille; side molding same as Dart
270 except for piece near headlights, where "Dart 270" molding is
replaced by strongly similar "Valiant 200" molding; "Dodge" block
letters on trunk lid replaced by "Valiant" block letters; Valiant crest
centerpiece in steering wheel; 2-door models had "Valiant 200" emblems
near front of interior door; Valiant hubcaps used. Valiant 200
convertible and 2-door hardtop versions may have been offered in Canada
but this is not confirmed. V8 models used same emblem as U. S. Dart.

1965 Valiant Signet:

Virtual equivalent to U. S. Dart GT with hood emblem, grille, trunk
lid and interior changes as described under Valiant 200 heading.
"Valiant Signet" emblem as used on '65 U. S. Signet located on front
fender in about the same position as on Valiant fender on U. S. Signet.
"GT" emblem on hardtop B-pillar replaced by Valiant crest. Convertible
did not have Valiant crest relocated to rear quarter panel as was done
with "GT" emblem on U. S. Dart convertibles. Of course, "DART" block
letters on back fenders were deleted. Valiant hubcaps used including
fake mag hubcaps, which were not available on U. S. Dart.

1965 Valiant Barracuda:

Same as '64 except for use of '65 Dart instrument cluster (and of course no TorqueFlite pushbuttons).

1965 Wagons:

1966: Last of the Canadian Valiants - BV/BL

1966 was the last year for the Dart-based Canadian
Valiant. While Ford
and GM (particularly Pontiac) continued marketing unique cars for the
Canadian market, Chrysler's unique Canadian efforts
from 1967 to the middle 1970s were limited to the Fargo truck line and
the occasional car such as the Dodge Monaco convertible.

Low-end models based on the U. S.
Valiant were dropped in 1966, leaving only the Dart-based cars and the
Barracuda, which was built in Detroit this year and onwards.

Bill Watson wrote:

Canadian Valiant wheel covers were like the American Plymouth
Valiant, only with the Valiant emblem and not the Plymouth on the
centre hub. The reverse this year was true for the "Valiant Signet"
fender plates - ads showed them ahead of the wheel opening in the
fender depressions, but production models had them between the opening
and the front door. The Dart GT in 1966 had little air splits on the
front fender tips with "GT" etched into them. The Canadian Signet had
the windsplits, but less the "GT" etching.

The Barracuda had the Barracuda emblem on the steering wheel, rear
window trim and front grille. Apparently early models had "Valiant" on
the trunk, but I have only seen "Barracuda" nameplates on the trunk.
The name "Plymouth", naturally, was nowhere to be seen.

Basic Dodge Dart Equivalent

Model designation on C-pillar. '66 Dart dash and interior with
exception of Valiant crest horn button as seen on '62-'65 Valiants.
Hubcaps and wheel covers same as '66 Valiant, including full wheel
cover as seen on U. S. model with Plymouth emblem in middle. No "Dodge"
script in right hand corner of trunk. "Valiant" block letters between
taillights as seen on '65 Dart-based Canadian Valiants.

Dart 270 Equivalent

Believed to continue under "Valiant 200" name although one source
shows this as "Custom 200". All Canadian updates to basic Dart
equivalent apply here with the following differences: (1) "Dart 270"
nomenclature at back of lengthwise stainless moulding believed replaced
by plain piece matching rest of moulding; (2) Pictures I have show
model designation on B/C pillar; and (3) "Valiant" block letters
located above moulding between taillights as seen on '65 Canadian
Signet.

Valiant Signet

The Dart GT equivalent definitely continued under this name. All
Canadian updates to basic and 270 equivalents apply here with the
following additional differences: (1) "Valiant Signet" emblem applied
to front fender in about the same location as '65 model; (2) Valiant
crest in circle as seen on '65 U. S. Valiant and '65 Canadian "Custom
100" trunk lid replaced "GT" emblem on hardtop B-pillar; "Dart" block
letters on rear quarter panel near taillight deleted; and (4) Fascia
between taillights same as Dart except says "Valiant" instead of
"Dodge".

Valiant Barracuda

Believed identical to U. S. Barracuda with exception of "Valiant"
nameplates replacing "Plymouth" nameplates. May also have continued
with Valiant crest on horn button or sport steering wheel centerpiece,
while U. S. Barracudas had Plymouth emblem in this position (but not on
the rear window).

Incidentally, Canada was a source for right-hand drive
export Valiants. In 1982, I was on the island of St. Kitts in the
British West Indies, where I saw a right-hand drive '66 Canadian
Valiant 4-door sedan parked next to an Australian Valiant VC 4-door
sedan. I recognized the VC as Australian, but not knowing the
Australian Valiant history very well at that time I thought from the
steering wheel location the '66 was Australian as well. It wasn't until
many years later that I learned that the Australians never used a RHD
version of the '66 Dart dash, nor did they use a Dart body shell until
later.

Epilogue

By 1967, there was almost no difference between U.
S. and Canadian Chrysler cars and trucks, exceptions being the Monaco/Monaco 500 convertible and the Fargo line of cloned Dodge
trucks. This included the belated introduction of the A-body Dodge Dart
and moving the Valiant into the Plymouth car line.

1967 was the only year since the end of World War
II that all Canadian Dodges had different instrumentation from their
Plymouth counterparts. The '68 B-bodies on both sides of the border
(other than Charger and Super Bee) all shared the same gauges, with
the Charger gauge cluster appearing on the GTX and Road Runner in 1970.
By 1972 one could only tell a Dodge from a Plymouth from the inside by
a few small emblems... ...and that was assuming your car was fitted
with the correct emblems, which wasn't always the case in that era...

Chrysler Australia introduced the VE Valiant series in 1967. The VE
was clearly strongly influenced by the 1967 Dart. The later Australian
Valiant Hardtop was essentially a '69 Dart with right hand drive and
front sheetmetal somewhat reminiscient of (not identical to) a '70
Dart. And the Pacer Hardtop would have been familiar to American
Swinger 340 fans, at least until the bonnet was opened...

The first Dodge Demon was a 1970 Canadian show car,
featuring a Dart front clip on a lightly modified Duster body and done
for a fraction of the cost of a typical show car.

In 1974, when Chrysler had quit importing the Hillman Avenger-based Plymouth Cricket
from the UK [it was not brought in after 1972 but some were sold as
1973 models], Canadian Plymouth dealers got a badge-engineered Dodge
Colt which was marketed under the Cricket name. Canadian Dodge dealers
in turn got a "Dodge Arrow."

The first non-Japanese MoPar car after 1970 made exclusively for the Canadian
market was the 1978 Plymouth Caravelle (actually first made in
mid-1977), which was initially a Dodge Diplomat clone with modified
grille and taillights; it lasted until its American counterpart died in
1989.

When the E-body (extended K-platform) Caravelle, based on the Dodge
400/600, was brought into Canada, the M-body version was called the
Caravelle Salon...but the word "Salon" only appeared on the
car when it was ordered with the Salon package. Stu McAllister wrote:
“This always causes lots of fun at the auto parts counter, since
we had two completely different cars with the same nameplate from 1982-89. Interesting marketing approach.”

There was a two-door front wheel drive Caravelle through 1986 which never appeared in the US.

With the introduction of the G-body sports model (Dodge Daytona) in '84, Chrysler
Canada started on a different path. The Dodge Daytona was marketed in
Canada as a Chrysler Daytona, and sold by Dodge-Chrysler and
Plymouth-Chrysler dealers alike in Canada. This was later followed by
the Chrysler Dynasty and Chrysler Intrepid. It appears that
Chrysler Canada found this easier than creating Plymouth clones
of Dodge cars, or for that matter than selling Dodge cars. The phasing
out of Dodge cars was reversed in 2004 when the Dodge SX 2.0 was
brought out to complement the Chrysler Neon. Today, Chrysler Canada uses the same brands and models as Chrysler in the United States.